The Country Director of Sightsavers, Ghana, Mr. David Agyemang has appealed to various religious groups in Ghana to stop discrimination and stigmatization when it comes to matters relating to persons with disabilities (PWDs).
According to him, society especially the various religious heads are found of making discriminatory pronouncements that denigrate PWDs and turns to kill their already demoralized spirit.
“How can a pastor or any religious leader stand before a congregation and boldly tell them to pray for God to turn their enemies to be blind and crippled But in the same church or gathering are blind and those on wheel chair,“ he said.
He made this statement at the end of a three-day Economic Empowerment Project for PWDs organised by ABAK Foundation with support from Sightsavers.
The project brought PWDs across the country to Accra to be trained on how to navigate through job seeking environment and it also aimed at helping organizations and companies to know and understand some of the common tools that must be in place to be able to hire the services of PWDs
He said research upon research has proven that many people don’t trust that PWDs especially employers can work or deliver but that is false because PWDs can perform.
He revealed that PWDs in Ghana have higher educational qualifications that must be working in senior positions or high places but the physical environment has temporarily limited them.
Mr. Agyemang said for instance there are PWDs accountants who are good but the place to get employment is not accessible adding that there are no smart tools in these companies for them to use to deliver because many of these tools are normal ones.
He therefore challenged PWDs to exhibit self confidence and believe in themselves that they can do it.
“It is one of the issues we are trying to solve with this project that society will not be a contributory factory in aggravating their problems.
Mr. Agyemang also called on the government to immediately develop what is called employment equity policy where PWDs would also be employed and again charged on Parliament to speed-up the passage of the amendment of the Disability Act into law.
On society, he called on all and sundry to embrace PWDs by creating access and pathway for them to be easily employed.
The facilitator for ABAk Foundation, Mr. Philip Duah said the workshop focused on preparing PWDs on how to write a CV, prepare for interviews, application letters and also enhance those with micro businesses.
He indicated that since the beginning of the project at least 26 of PWDs have been enrolled into formal jobs and over 240 are currently looking for formal jobs.
These over 240 PWDs are currently given mentors who have shaped their CVs and mentoring them to secure formal jobs.
On her part, the Program Officer of Sightsavers, Mrs Beatrice Mamudu, called on all Ghanaians to stop all forms of discrimination against PWDs because they also matter in society.
Sharing their thoughts after the event, these PWDs expressed their happiness and willingness for been part of the program and asked their other colleagues to position themselves will for future trainings.